The Battle Of Conformity In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

The battle of conforming to a society's rules and regulations for the sake of peace and unity is a topic that takes up a lot of space in one's head. Does a person change who they are for the well-being of others? I do not believe so. Conformity through tradition is not necessary for societies to function and thrive. Conformist values lead to a lack of human rights, dependency issues, and overall the death of diversity within a community.

So many people frown upon those who do not stick to what has been deemed socially acceptable. These people are often seen as a trouble and under bad influences, but I disagree. Just because a tradition has always been done does not mean it is right. The pressure to fit in with a group of people often blinds

While this is true it is important to know the reasoning behind the actions one is conforming to. Conformity can bring out the worst in people and is often used to justify atrocities. A prime example is shown in the short story “The Lottery” written by Shirley Jackson. Villagers of a small town participate in an annual ritual called the Arbitrary Sacrifice. As time went on no one knew the true reasoning or purpose of the tradition, therefore deeming it obsolete. Why one may ask is this still being continued, because it is what they have been brought up to do. The person's name who has been picked is in for such a great reward, being stoned to death by the community, including their family. A tradition that has been continued by about three hundred people, for hundreds of years, no questions asked. When the idea of abandoning the tradition is brought up to an old resident of the village, he shuts it down. He mentions the

However, the need for acceptance is a basic human instinct. It is how much value that is held within that instinct that determines how one acts on it. Something interesting that is observed in “The Lottery” is the silence of all citizens of the town until it directly affects them. Silence can be destructive in nature. It infers acceptance, and I am sure that no one is accepting of the senseless murder of their fellow townspeople. The villagers are aware and willing in their roles as perpetrators, but it is all of a sudden “not fair” when that black dot appears in their hands. If you only decide to speak out on something when its bad seeds affect you your morals are not in the right place. Speaking out on what is wrong and right immediately, is more important than conceding to society's norms. It is okay to be scared of the outcome of doing things on your terms. Guillebau makes it known that the absence of fear is not courage; the absence of fear is mental illness. With these words, he suggests that it is completely natural to be scared, but you can't let the fear hold you back. If anything, a person should be scared of conformity. If you are consistently going with the crowd a person loses their individuality. If everyone contributes the same to society there is no progression. Just a waste of unlimited